Different but One

Last week, we saw how the disciples came together to overcome adversity and to proclaim God’s glory. This is a blueprint not only for overcoming adversity, but also for Christian living. We need to come together to the point where we are of one heart and one soul. And this is what we see in the scripture for this week. The disciples were of one heart and soul and when they are in this state of unity, they have everything in common, including their assets. No one among them had need. As the universal church, it’s safe to say that we fall short of this standard. But why, what are we missing? Let’s take a closer look!

Scripture

Acts 4:32-37  Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.  (33)  And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.  (34)  There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold  (35)  and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.  (36)  Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,  (37)  sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Bible Study Questions

The believers

The first verse of this morning’s scripture says that the believers were of one heart and one soul. Who were the believers? What does it mean to be a believer?

Acts 4:32 ESV  Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 

John 13:34 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Luke 6:35 ESV But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

One heart and one soul

Remarkably, Luke describes the believers as having one heart and one soul. They had everything in common - they sold their possessions and counted their belongings as shared property which they used as each of the believers had need. How were they able to do this? Are we supposed to live like this today? Why don’t we?

Acts 4:32 ESV  Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 

1 Cor 12:27 ESV Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

1 Cor 12:12 ESV For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

Rom 12:4-5 ESV For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

The power of God at work

The scripture says that the apostles were sharing their testimony powerfully and that great grace was upon them all. Why do you think the scripture says that they were giving their testimonies with great power, and not preaching with great power? Why do you think great grace was upon them?

Act 4:33 ESV And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

1 Cor 2 1-5 ESV And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Luke 6:38 ESV Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Mar 10:29-30 ESV Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

Not a needy person among them

All over the Bible, we read about the care for the poor. Here we see the epitome of Christian charity, where not a single one among them had a need. Do you think that it should be the same in our church today? Do we have needy people in our church? What should we do?

Act 4:34 ESV There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 

Luke 12:33 ESV Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

1 John 3:17 ESV But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Proverbs 31:20 ESV She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

Like Barnabas

Barnabas was a Levite and he went and sold his field and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Why is this significant? What can we do to follow his example?

Act 4:36-37 ESV Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Neh 10:38 ESV And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse.

Num 18:21 ESV “To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting,

Giving like the early church

The early church was the model for Christian giving. Giving to the building of God’s Kingdom is a Biblical mandate. As a church, we are blessed by the charity and love of our congregation, but we fall well short of the example we read today. What can we do to improve?

Act 4:32 ESV Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 

Matthew 19:21 ESV Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Be sold out for Jesus

To give like the early church did, we need to be sold out for Christ. That was the gravitational glue that brought the church together to have one heart and one soul. What do you need to do to be sold out for Christ?

Act 4:32 ESV Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 

Jeremiah 29:13 ESV You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 33:3 ESV Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Matthew 7:7 ESV “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.